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Patented Oct. 26, 1880.

G. B. MORSE. Axle for Railroad Cars.

(N0 Model.)

CYRUS B. MORSE, OF RHINEBEOK, NEW YORK.

AXLE FOR RAI LROAD-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,634, dated October26, 1880.

Application filed July 14, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OYRUs B. Mouse, of Rhinebeck, in the county ofDutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Axles for Railroad-Oars and other Vehicles, and in theprocess of manufacturing the same, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to produce a strong, light, cheap, anddurable hollow wrought-metal axle.

I am aware that heretofore hollow metallic axles have been made; butsuch axles do not possess the peculiar characteristics of my axle,hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which rep resent my axle in the -variousstages of its manufacture, as well as apparatus for forming it, Figure 1is a longitudinal section of the cast ingot from which the axle-tube ismade. Fig. 2 represents the ingot after it has been drawn out byhammering and rolling into a tube of the requisite length and thickness.Fig. 3 represents the tube after it has been subjected to the firstswaging operation, its center being reduced in diameter. Fig. 4represents the tapering mandrel upon which the center of the tube isformed. Fig. 5 represents the complete axle, partly in section. Fig. 6represents the mandrel on which the ends or journals of the axle areformed, and Figs. 7 and 8 represent sections of the recessed dies oranvils in which the ingot and axle are swaged into shape.

In manufacturing my improved axle I first cast a hollow cylindricalingot, A, of the grade of steel desired. I then take the ingot thusformed, and by drawing it out by hammering on a mandrel while it restsin the die or anvil B, and then rolling on a mandrel, as is wellunderstood, work it into a tube or axle-blank, O, of a diameter equal tothe greatest diameter of the axle to be made. This tube, being slightlyshorter than the axle desired, is then reduced in diameter at itsmiddle, as shown at 1), Figs. 3 and 5, by hammering or swaging upon amandrel, D, one-half at a time, or all at once if two mandrels areinserted from opposite ends so as to meet in the center. The bodyE ofthe axle is now complete, and it will be observed that the metal is ofabout equal thickness at all points, that the smallest diameter is atthe middle, and that the diameter gradually increases toward the endsuntil it reaches the wheel-seat a0-the point of greatest diameter. Thenext step is to form the journal F and dust-guard F of the axle. This isdone by swaging upon a tapering mandrel, G, in the die or anvil B. Thediameter of the journal being less than that of the dust-guard orwheel-seat w, in reducing the diameter and forming the dust-guard andjournal there will be an excess of metal that will thicken andstrengthen the axle at H, which is the point in the axle where thegreatest strain occurs, and where the greatest strength is required.These swaging operations will elongate the tube to the required lengthof the axle.

The dies or anvils shown in Figs. 7 and 8 have inclined sides 1 g,forming a triangle in connection with the hammer-head, so that the tubeis swaged under the hammer at three equidistant points. -When it reachesthe bottom h of the die the axle will be of the proper size.

In the operation of swaging and forming my axle by the use of mandrelsand these dies or anvils, the tube is to be turned a little after eachblow, either by hand or suitable machinery, whereby the metal will beforced to a common center at each blow, and thus steel axletubes can bewrought into shape with ease and rapidity and in the most perfect mannerwithout waste of metal.

As hereinbefore stated, I am aware that, broadly speaking, hollowmetallic axles are old; but such axles, so far as I am aware, have beenmade either by casting them of the shape desired or by welding an irontube and then forging it out, or by boring out solid metal; but so faras my knowledge extends an axle similar in structure to mine has neverheretofore been produced. These methods are each objectionable becausethey fail to produce axles of suflicient strength and lightness at thesame time, and the last is also objectionable, as it only makes a holeof equal diameter throughout, and as being too expensive. Steel tubescannot be welded, and hence tubular wrought-steel axles have not beenmade of welded tubes.

.in general use.

The axle herein described is a seamless wroughtsteel hollow one formedfrom a malleable cast-steel ingot, and its exterior shape is that of thestandard solid railroad-axle now It is designed especially as arailroad-car axle, but is applicable for vehicles of all kinds, its formand size being properly varied; and it will be observed that it is ofgreat strength and durability.

By constructing my seamless hollow axle so that the interior wall shallconform in general outline to its exterior, I not only secure thenecessary elasticity requisite at the center, where the diameter isreduced and the amount of metal decreased, but also produce acorrespondingly lighter and cheaper axle. Its shape is that best adaptedto resist the strains to which it is subjected, and the metal sodistributed as to be thickest atthe points of greatest strain and leastin weight and section at the points of least strain, so as to be instructure architecturally correct, and to combine at once minimum weightwith maximum strength.

Axles made as above set forth of steel have more resiliency than otheraxles, and are not, therefore, liable to fracture from sudden strains.Their use for railroad-cars results directly in a material economy, notonly over solid axles, but over any other species of hollow axles knownto me.

I purpose makingflle recessed dies or an vils and the methodof reducingor drawing tubular metallic bodies by simultaneously swaging them atthree equidistant points the subjectmatter of another patent, andtherefore disclaim herein such subject-matter so far as this patent isconcerned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The hereinbefore described seamless wrought-metal hollow axle, theinterior wall of which conforms in general outline with its exteriorshape, there being about a uniform thickness of metal at all pointsexcept at the dust-guard, where the wall of the axle is the thickest.

2. The method of forming seamless hollow metallic axles hereindescribed, which consists in taking a tubular malleable ingot and firstdrawing it out over a mandrel to the requisite length of an axle-blankof uniform diameter and thickness; second, reducing it at the middle byswaging it over a tapering mandrel and elongating it, as describedthird, and then reducing the ends over another smaller mandrel to formthe journals and shoulders.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23d day ofJune, A. D. 1880.

CYRUS B. MORSE.

Witnesses:

G. G. LEEDS, H H. MORSE.

